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Maryland Commerce Leads Local Innovators to Startup Grind Conference

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Eight local companies were selected to showcase products/services to a global audience

BALTIMORE, MD (February 11, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Commerce this week is leading a delegation of Maryland startup companies to the Startup Grind Global Conference in Silicon Valley, Ca. The conference, which runs through February 12, attracts more than 10,000 entrepreneurs, startups, emerging and high growth companies, investors, and major national and international brands for a two-day conference focused on education and networking. This is the first time that Maryland Commerce has participated in this conference.

“We are very excited to lead some of Maryland’s best and brightest startup companies to this global conference. Leading this delegation is part of our larger focus this year on supporting our entrepreneurs and ensuring they have the resources to thrive in our state,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Our startup companies will have a unique opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge products and services to investors as well as leading innovators from around the globe.”

Maryland Commerce, in partnership with TEDCO, selected the companies earlier this year through a competitive process, with the criteria that companies have fewer than 50 employees, an innovative product, and a demonstrated record of success with the potential to scale substantially. Local law firm Shulman Rogers is also providing support through a sponsorship.

The eight Maryland companies are Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, a biotech based in Gaithersburg focused on advancing a permanent cure to bacterial superbug infections; Hop Flyt, a Lusby-based company working on an electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for passenger urban aerial mobility; ICMed, LLC, a healthcare technology company in Baltimore that is creating accessibility and portability of secure consumer health information among patients, caregivers and healthcare providers; MindStand Tech, a Baltimore-based artificial intelligence company that provides business owners with actionable insights on the engagement, productivity, and culture of their employees and/or students; Next Step Robotics, a biotech in Baltimore developing robots and artificial intelligence to teach stroke victims how to walk again without assistive devices; Outlook/OVFX, an entertainment and media company in Baltimore specializing in kids and pop culture content; Splice Therapeutics, a biotech in Bethesda that invented the leading form of gene editing, RNA trans-splicing; and Sensanna Inc., a Hanover-based company that works to bring connectivity and information to the industries that operate in the harshest conditions.

“As ICmed begins to expand its commercialization efforts, attending SG Global 2020 as part of the Maryland delegation with the Department of Commerce will afford us a unique opportunity to showcase our mission, learn from industry leaders, and establish relationships with investors, collaborators and strategic partners to help fuel our rapid growth,” said Anil Kshepakaran, founder and CEO of ICMed LLC.

“I’m looking forward to engaging in discussions and problem-solving related to common challenges of entrepreneurship with leaders in the global startup community,” said Greg Merril, CEO of Adaptive Phage Therapeutics. “I fully anticipate that I will forge new relationships and collaborations that will help accelerate the growth of Adaptive Phage Therapeutics.”